Article isolating and shock absorbing shipping container



2,660,295 ARTICLE IsoLAIINGl AND sHocx ABsoRBING SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 29, 195o l H. G. BECK 5 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 24, 1953 l INVENToR Hward' G.Beck

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ATTORNEYS .IIITIII-l I I l l l l I I Il Il lllllrl Nov. 24, 1953 H. G. BECK ARTICLE ISOLATING ND SHOCK ABSORBING SHIPPING CONTAINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1950 No. w

INVENTOR Howard G. Beck BY l www f-%7 ATTORNEY ARTICLE ISOLATING AND SHOCK ABSORBING SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed" June 29, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,'vsl.;

` lNvENToR Hqwrd G. Beck BY. ya

I. ATTORNEYS Novi 24, 1953 H. G. BECK 2,660,295

ARTICLE ISOLATING AND SHOCK ABSORBING SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 2951950 5 sheets-sheet 4 1j-2 7 7 I v lNvENToR Howard G-Beck BY' M he ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1953 H. G. BECK 2,560,295

` ARTICLE IsoLAIING AND sHocK ABsoRBING SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 29, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I ""u: 1'.. ..7 nl.,

lNvENTOR Howard G. Beck BY i *3% ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. Z4, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE ARTICLE ISOLATING AND SHOCK ABSORB- ING SHIPPING CONTAINER Application June 29, 1950, Serial No. 171,221

7 Claims. (C1. 20G-46) This invention relates to shipping containers for articles such as scientic instruments and expensive machines or machine parts and is so constructed as to absorb impact shocks and protect such instruments or machinery from damage due to accidental impacts to which the containers may be subjected during shipment.

The shipping container of the present invention comprises an inner article carrying frame that is movably mounted within an outer frame and isolated from the outer frame by supporting and cushioning devices designed to offer yielding resistance to movement of the inner frame in any direction in a given plane.

The cushioning and supporting devices are also designed to offer a resistance which first increases rapidly upon initial movement of the inner frame within the outer and then less rapidly in order to more effectively absorb severe impact shocks.

The invention has for its object to provide a shipping container that will afford effective protection to expensive instruments and machinery during shipment.

The invention also has for an object to provide simple and compact cushioning means which will effectively absorb impact shocks with a minimum movement of the article holder in the container.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a shipping container embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the container;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section on an enlarged scale taken on the line indicated at 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the container with portions broken away and shown in vertical section;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section on an enlarged scale, taken on the line indicated at 5--5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is the same section as Fig. 5, showing the inner frame shifted with respect to the outer frame;

Fig. '1 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 5, showing a modified form of seat for the rubber cushioning balls;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 5, showing the cushioning device employing steel balls and spring pressed seats; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional View corresponding to Fig. 8 showing the inner frame shifted with respect to the outer.

The container of the present invention has a rigid outer frame provided with longitudinally spaced bottom cross bars I of angle form which have vertically disposed anges 2 which are adapted to engage a iloor and space the bottom of the container above the floor to facilitate the entry of lifting forks beneath the container or the passing of a hoisting chain or cable under the container.

Longitudinal channel plates 3 are attached to opposite ends of the spaced bottom cross bars I, and the bottom structure is braced by means of gusset plates 4 which are interposed between the channel plates 3 and the bars I and which extend inwardly past the inner sides of the channel plates 3. The channel plates 3 face upwardly, having upwardly extending inner and outer flanges 5. The flanges 5 serve to position upright side walls 6 of the container and upright inner wall sections 'I which are spaced inwardly from and parallel to the upright walls 6 and which are spaced longitudinally to provide openings 8 between the sections at longitudinally spaced points. The parallel upright walls Ii and l are connected at the top by downwardly facing channel plates 9 which may be identical with the channel plates 3, and the walls 6 and 'I at the ends of the container are connected by end channel plates I0.

The side walls 6 and inner wall sections 1 connected by the channel plates 3, 9 and I0, prof vide a rigid longitudinal side wall structure for the container at each side thereof, and within the wall sections 'I there is mounted an inner article carrying frame which has longitudinally spaced cross members II which are in the form of supporting cradles having their top edges curved to provide article receiving seats I2. The cross members II have end members I3 attached thereto which are preferably in the form of castings to provide rigid supports to which the article to be shipped may be bolted or clamped.

'I'he cross members II of the inner frame are connected by tie rods I4 which have shoulder portions I5 that engage the inner sides of the cross members Il. The tie rods extend through the cross members II and are clamped thereto by means of nuts I6. Each of the end membersv I3 carries a horizontally disposed outwardly projecting trunnion I'I that is provided with a ballshaped outer end I 8. Each trunnion Il has a tapered shank I9 that fits in a tapered hole in an end member I3 and is held in place by a nut 20. The cross members II are positioned in alinement with'the openings 8 between-the wall sections 'I and the end members I3 projectinto The plates and to the elongated plate 23 by means of bolts Above and below each of the trunnions l1 are horizontally disposed cylindrical barrels 21 mounted in the plates 2l and 22. The plates 2l, 22 and 23 have registering openings to receive the barrels 21 which are positioned by flanges integral therewith which engage with the outer faces of the plates 2l. The barrels 21 are open Vat their outer ends and have closed inner ends 29, and slidably mounted within each barrel is a follower 30 provided at its outer end with a semispherical recess 3| to receive a steel bearing ball 32. Each follower 3G is pressed outwardly by a spring 33 interposed between the follower and the bottom 29 of the barrel, and the balls 32 bear against a steel plate 34 attached to the inner face of the wall 6. Four bearing plates 34 are provided, cne opposite each of the openings 8 and each bearing plate 34 is engaged by two vertically spaced bearing balls 32. Each of the plates 34 has vertically spaced concavities 35 in which the balls 32 are normally engaged to hold the inner frame in a substantially Xed position with respect to the outer frame.

The elongated upright plates 23 have two longitudinal rows of disks 36 attached to each face thereof. The disks 36 are disposed back to back facing the wall sections 1 and the side walls 3, and the wall 3 has rows of disks 31 attached to its inner face, the disks 31 being of substantially the same size as the ydisks 36, and a disk 31 being positioned opposite each of the disks 35. The outer faces of the wall sections 'l have disks 33 which are disposed opposite the disks 36 on the plate 23. The disks 36, 31 and 38 provide seats 39 which are disposed in opposed pairs on opposite sides of the plate 23. The seats 39 are preferably concave and at least one set of each opposed pair has a central depression 4i! which provides a circular shoulder 4| which is disposed at a deeper inclination than the surrounding portion of the seat. An elastic rubber ball 42 is interposed between each pair of yopposed seats, and these balls normally seat in the depressions 4i! as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The elastic rubber balls 42 have rolling engagement with the opposed seats 39 and serve to yieldingly resist movements of the plates 23 in any direction in the plane of the plates and, since the plates 23 support the inner article carrying frame, the article carrying frame is permitted to have movements in any direction parallel to the side walls of the container and these movements are cushioned by all of the balls 42, each of which offers resistance to movement of the inner frame in any direction parallel to the side walls. The engagement of the balls 42 with the relatively steep shoulder portions 4I of the seats causes the balls to oier a resistance to movements of the inner frame which increases quite rapidly during the initial portion of the movement and less rapidly after the initial movement. The resist-Y ance to laterai movement increases throughout the movement of the inner frame until the movement of the inner frame is stopped, but the initial high rate of increase of resistance, followed by a lesser rate of increase, serves to effectively absorb severe impact shocks.

As herein shown, the cushioning balls are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of each of the plates 23. It is to be understood, however, that each of the cushioning balls functions in exactly the same way as every other ball, and as many of the cushioning balls may be provided as is desirable for the particular article that is to be shipped. In some instances it may be desirable to employ balls only on one side of each of the plates 23 Furthermore, it will be apparent that substantially the same cushioning characteristics can be obtained by conning a cushioning ball between a fiat plate and a concave seat such as herein shown.

The bearing balls and plates 33 serve to guide the movements of the inner frame within the outer frame and when the balls 3?. are engaged in the recesses 35, the balls 32 and plates 311 serve as releasable supporting members to normally hold the inner frame in a xed position with respect to the outer frame, supporting all or a considerable portion of the weight of the inner frame so that the cushioning balls 42 are subjected to a minimum pressure except when the inner frame is jarred loose from its anchorage by a severe impact. The recesses 35 have a radius of curvature slightly greater than that of the balls 32 so that they allow a slight play of the inner frame within the outer to absorb vibrations, but normally hold the inner frame against substantial movement with respect to the outer frame. When the container is subjected to a, severe impact the balls 32 are moved out of the recesses 35 onto the flat portions of the plate, after which the inner iframe continues to move until its movement is checked by the elastic balls e2. The distortion of the balls t2 due to movements of the inner frame within the outer causes them to exert a thrust on the plate 23 and through the plate 23 to the inner frame, tending to restore the inner frame to its original position where the bearing balls 32 engage in the recesses 35.

In Fig. 7 of the dra ings a modified form o seat is shown which may be applied to the structure heretofore described. In this modincation concave seats is are provided and these seats have central depressions i3 oi somewhat greater diameter than the depressions fii previously described, and these depressions form circular shoulders 41 which have a retardingy action on the balls shortly after initial movement of the inner frame, the balls 42 being normally supported in the central portion of the concave depression 46 and out of engagement with the shoulders 41.

In Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings a modified form of cushioning device is shown which may replace the cushioning device shown in Figs. l to 6. 1n this modication the inner frame is provided with trunnions 5s which support the longitudinal upright plates 5I adjacent to and parallel with the upright side walls of the container. The plate 5i has rows of disks 52 that are provided with concave oppositely facing seats 53 each provided with a central depression 513 providing shoulders 55 which have a steeper inclination than the surrounding portions of the seat.

Steel bearing balls 53 have rolling engagement with the seats 53 and are normally seated in the depressions ft as shown in Fig. 8. Movement of the plate 5i in any direction in its own plane causes the seats 53 to have a wedging action on the balls '55, tending to move them laterally away from the plates 5i, and to permit this movement and to provide cushioning action a yielding seat is provided between each of the balls and the xed wall toward which it moves.

As herein shown, the balls Sii engage with seats 58 identical with the seats 53 and attached to iioating plates 53 and @il that are disposed between the plates 5i and the side walls ti and wall sections l of the container. Springs 6l interposed between the plates 59 and Eli and the Walls S and 'i press the plates 59 and 5E! toward the plates 5i and normally hold the balls in the position shown in Fig. 8. Upon an excessive impact the inner frame moves within the outer, causing the seats 53 to be shifted with respect to the seats bil and causing the balls to roll from the depressions 5t of the seats 53 over the shoulders 55 to a position such as shown in Fig. 9. The shoulders t5 serve to provide a high initial resistance to movement and the outer portions of the seats 5s serve to provide a more gradual increase in resistance after the balls have passed over the shoulders 55.

The pressure of the springs il tends to return the seats 53 and the inner article holding frame to its original position in substantially the same way that the frame is returned by the elastic rubber balls s2.

It is to be understood that in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, variations and modiiications of the specific devices herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An article isolating shipping container comprising an outer frame and an inner article carrying frame, s pair of oppositely facing concave seats attached, one to each of said frames, said seats being disposed in substantially parallel relation and one having a central depression, the marginal portion of which is at a steeper radial inclination than the portions of the seat surrounding the depression, and means for yieldably supporting the inner :frame within the outer comprising an elastic rubber ball held under pressure between said seats and in rolling engagement therewith, said ball normally engaging in said depression whereby the steep marginal portions of said depression provide a relatively high initial resistance to movements of the inner frame with respect to the outer.

2. An article isolating shipping container comprising an outer frame, an inner frame, outwardly facing concave seats carried by the inner frame at opposite sides thereof, inwardly facing concave seats carried by the outer frame and arranged, one facing each of the inner frame seats, a rubber ball held under pressure between each two opposed seats and in rolling engagement therewith, and releasable means for normally supporting the weight of the inner frame independently of said balls comprising a flat upright plate carried by one of said frames and provided with a concave socket, a hard rounded bearing member carried by the other frame, and means for yieldingly holding said bearing member in said socket.

3. An article isolating and cushioning shipping container comprising an outer frame having upright side members, longitudinally spaced inwardly facing concave seats carried by said members, an inner frame, outwardly facing concave seats carried by said inner frame, one opposite each of the seats of the outer frame,each of said seats having a central circular depression the marginal portion of which is radially inclined and a portion surrounding the depression which has a radial inclination less steep than the marginal portion of the depression, and an elastic rubber ball under pressure between each two opposed seats and in rolling engagement therewith, said balls normally seating in said depressions whereby the steep marginal portions of the Vdepressions provide high initial resistance to relative movements of said frames.

4. An article isolating and cushioning shipping container comprising an outer frame having upright side members, longitudinally spaced inwardly facing concave seats carried by said members, an inner frame, outwardly facing concave seats carried by said inner frame, one opposite each of the seats of the outer frame, parallel upright plates carried by the outer frame, bearing members carried by the inner frame and engaging said plates to constrain the inner frame to movements in directions parallel to said plates, and elastic rubber cushioning balls interposed between said seats for cushioning relative movements of said frames.

5. An article isolating and cushioning shipping container comprising an outer rigid frame having upright side walls, longitudinally spaced bearing plates attached to the inner face of said wall, ea-ch of said plates having a fiat inner bearing face provided with a concave socket, an inner rigid article carrying frame having rounded bearing members mounted for lateral movement therein and adapted to slide on said plates and engage in said sockets, springs pressing said bearing members toward said plates to normally hold the same in said sockets so that the weight of the inner frame is normally carried by said bearing members, longitudinally spaced concave seats carried by said walls, opposed concave seats carried by the inner frame, and elastic rubber balls conned between said seats in rolling engagement therewith to yieldably resist movements of the inner frame in the outer in any direction parallel to said side walls.

6. An article isolating and cushioning shipping container comprising. an outer rigid frame having upright side walls, longitudinally spaced bearing plates attached to the inner face of said wall, each of said plates having a at inner bearing face provided with a concave socket, an inner rigid article carrying frame having rounded bearing members mounted for lateral movement therein and adapted to slide on said plates and engage in said sockets, springs pressing said bearing members toward said plates to normally hold the same in said sockets so that the weight of the inner frame is normally carried by said bearing members, longitudinally spaced concave seats carried by said walls, opposed concave seats carried by the inner frame, and elastic rubber balls confined between said seats in rolling engagement therewith to yieldably resist movements of the inner frame in the outer in any direction parallel to said side walls, each of said seats having a central depression to receive the ball confined by it, the said depression having a marginal wall that is more steeply inclined along radial lines than other portions of the seat whereby said balls oier a relatively high resistance to initial movements of the inner frame in the outer.

7. An article isolating and cushioning shipping container'comprising a rigid outer frame having elongated upright and parallel side Walls and uprights spaced inwardly from each of said side walls, longitudinal rows of concave inwardly facing seats attached to the inner faces of said side walls, concave outwardly facing seats carried by said uprights, one opposite each of the seats of the side wall, an inner article carrying frame within the outer fra-me, said inner frame having elongated upright plates attached thereto and disposed between said side walls 4and said uprights, sai-:l plates having inwardly and outwardly facing concave seats arranged back to back in rows and acing the seats of the side walls and uprights, and elastic rubber balls confined lbetween the seats of the plate and the opposed seats of said side walls and uprights, each ball having rolling engagement with the seats between which 'it is confined and yeldingly resisting movements References Aomai m the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 804,884 Rutan Nov. 21, 1905 2,171,774 Wendes Sept. 5, 1939 2,241,822 Marsh May 13, 1941 2,359,036 Harper Sept. 26, 1944 2,496,770 Bennett Feb. '7, 1950 2,549,906 Johansson Apr. 24, 1951 2,572,969 Bacon et a1 Oct. 30, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,358 Great Britain Nov. 2l, 1910 

